Suffering Hour – The Cyclic Reckoning (Review)

Suffering Hour - The Cyclic ReckoningThis is the second album from Suffering Hour, a blackened death metal band from the US.

Now here’s a release I’ve been looking forward to. I’m a big fan of Suffering Hour’s past work, (2013’s Foreseeing Exemptions to a Dismal Beyond, and then 2017’s immense In Passing Ascension), and their newest album simply takes their musical progression so far to its logical conclusion. Having learned plenty of lessons Continue reading “Suffering Hour – The Cyclic Reckoning (Review)”

The Scalar Process – Coagulative Matter (Review)

The Scalar Process - Coagulative MatterThe Scalar Process are a technical death metal band from France and this is their debut album.

When a band is described as for fans of Coexistence, The Zenith Passage, Beyond Creation, Necrophagist, The Faceless, Hateful, Archspire, Cynic, and Inferi, and when words such as technical, melodic, and progressive are bandied around Continue reading “The Scalar Process – Coagulative Matter (Review)”

Carcolh – The Life and Works of Death (Review)

Carcolh - The Life and Works of DeathCarcolh are a French doom metal band and this is their second album.

Carcolh’s approach to traditional doom metal is one that’s downbeat, heavy, and rich in feeling. The band hover somewhere between the old-school and the new, making the most of each of them to produce something that’s not entirely either, so should appeal to fans of both. Continue reading “Carcolh – The Life and Works of Death (Review)”

Spire – Temple of Khronos (Review)

Spire - Temple of KhronosThis is the second album from Australian black metal act Spire.

Temple of Khronos offers a dark mix of atmospheric, progressive, and psychedelic black metal. It’s as if the classic style that we know and love has been mutated and warped into something even darker and more malefic. Continue reading “Spire – Temple of Khronos (Review)”

Lizzard – Eroded (Review)

Lizzard - ErodedThis is the fourth album from French progressive/alternative rockers Lizzard.

Eroded contains 45 minutes of contemporary rock. It’s a style that has its roots in 90s alternative rock and metal, but one that has also been updated with more modern elements from the progressive and technical genres. Continue reading “Lizzard – Eroded (Review)”

Harakiri for the Sky – Mӕre (Review)

Harakiri for the Sky - MӕreThis is the fifth album from Austrian post-black metallers Harakiri for the Sky.

I always enjoy a new Harakiri for the Sky record. Both 2016’s III: Trauma and 2018’s Arson were first-rate albums from a first-rate band, and Mӕre is no different. Continue reading “Harakiri for the Sky – Mӕre (Review)”

Lam – Liber K (Review)

Lam - Liber KLam are an international alternative metal band and this is their debut EP.

Featuring the very capable singer of Herod, (ex-The Ocean), Lam are a relatively new band that nonetheless appear to be fully formed already and ready to challenge listener’s everywhere. There’s only 11 minutes of material here, but it makes a good impression. Continue reading “Lam – Liber K (Review)”

Abiotic – Ikigai (Review)

Abiotic - IkigaiThis is the third album from US death metallers Abiotic.

Abiotic play modern death metal that takes influence from the technical and progressive strains of the style, as well as from some elements of deathcore. The promo blurb states that Ikiagi is for fans of bands such as Continue reading “Abiotic – Ikigai (Review)”

Sur Austru – Obârșie (Review)

Sur Austru - ObârșieSur Austru are an atmospheric black/folk metal band from Romania and this is their second album.

2019’s Meteahna Timpurilor was a very enjoyable collection of songs, so I knew I wanted to listen to Obârșie as soon as I could. The band feature ex-members of Negură Bunget, and a current member of Kultika. Continue reading “Sur Austru – Obârșie (Review)”